Your mantra for the week: “This year, I shall be more prosperous than ever!”

 

Everyone desires greater prosperity, but what does it really mean? Is prosperity simply accumulating wealth?

 

In IAMISM, prosperity is:

 

Knowing one’s supply comes from God that is always with you, wherever you are;

 

Infinite supply that comes from ideas, as well as feelings that turn into action and brings forth the desired wealth;

 

Giving what you have to give; as you fill a demand, supply must return increased and multiplied;

 

Standing stable and steady in the face of frustrating outer conditions;

 

Refusing to get caught in pessimistic and poverty-laden talk;

 

Expanding your horizon by the increased use of your talents and abilities;

 

Activating your inventiveness by facing life with an open heart and mind;

 

Realizing that the only way to get what you want is to earn it by right of consciousness;

 

Gratitude, a sure way of getting your desires to flow in your direction;

 

Pronouncing that everything in your life is good;

 

Living in the now, that you have let go of the past and are in no way futuring;

 

Forgiving, which opens many doors and channels of wealth;

 

And, finally, expressing greater lovingness in everything you do, making sure every act is one of kindness.

 

Priscilla’s elegance

 

For the past four years, I have awarded the annual Priscilla statuette for Epitome: Dressing at its Best. But this year, five being the number of change in numerology, I have decided there will be no awardees because of too many choices with very few picks.

 

There is more to dressing than meets the eye. There is also the aspect of comfort and being properly dressed for the occasion—a cocktail dress is a cocktail dress and not an evening gown.

 

Dressing for lunch does not call for accessorizing like you’re attending a dinner. Elegance means never intending to steal the show.

 

I would like to recap my choices in the last four years, so that I may pay tribute to them once more.

 

In 2014, they were Karen Davila, Amparito Lhuillier, Tina Maristela Ocampo, Nanette Medved Po, Mandy dela Rama, Kaye Tiñga, Bea Valdes, Maricris Zobel; 2015, Beng Dee, Bianca Araneta-Elizalde, Heart Evangelista-Escudero, Zelda Kienle, Kai Lim, Marivic Vazquez, Mariquita Yeung, Kit Zobel; 2016, Criselda Lontok, Crickette Tantoco, Helen Ong, Vicky Morales, Gina Lopez, Michelle Tan, Tina Jacinto, Gemma Cruz Araneta; 2017, Mia Borromeo, Lulu Tan-Gan, Kathy Huang, Korina Sanchez, Stephanie Gonzalez, Joy Rustia, Duday Tuason and Joanna Preysler.

 

My favorites for 2014 were Dela Rama and Tiñga. In 2015, Kienle and Zobel; in 2016, Cruz-Araneta and Lopez; in 2017, Rustia and  Tan-Gan.

 

The Priscilla will be back next year with more gusto!

 

The most colorful Gray

 

Today is the birthday of  Catriona Gray, our fourth Miss Universe, who has truly raised the bar for aspiring beauty queens. She really gave the country the best Christmas gift.

 

What you saw on television is her authentic self—a winner, not only as a beauty title holder, but one who would be an asset to the country not just in terms of beauty and advocacy.

 

I foresee the name Catriona Gray would one day be a brand. I can see it now and hear people saying, “Is that a Catriona Gray?” She said she would like to go into business someday, and boy, would she be surprised when big companies start queuing up at her doorstep with various offers.

 

Happy birthday, Catriona! You are getting everything you deserve. Thank you for bringing the whole country along.

 

Budget ‘naman ganun’?

 

I am surprised that Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno has landed in the headlines on allegations that his in-laws’ construction company had cornered government contracts.

 

I had the pleasure of a conversation with him at Ziggurat Restaurant and he impressed me with his knowledge and savvy. Is it our nature, perhaps, that when we attain power, we eventually slip into corruption? Or is the temptation just too great that it is no-diok to try and resist—that’s a joke no! Budget naman ganun?

 

Follow Dr. George on Facebook Live Sundays, 7 p.m.; listen to the radio program Positive Session, Saturdays 9-10 p.m. on DWIZ 882 AM.